Those growth rates compare to 6.4 percent for spending and 4.5 percent for revenue in 2016.

The 2017 data indicates China had a preliminary fiscal deficit of 3.07 trillion yuan last year, compared with a preliminary deficit of 2.86 trillion yuan in 2016.

The 2017 difference between spending and revenue amounted to 3.5 percent of last year’s GDP, according to a Reuters calculation based on the finance ministry data. China was targeting a deficit equivalent to 3 percent of GDP in 2017.

The figures are subject to revisions and the final amount of the deficit may be lower than preliminary indications.